Weeds, Guardians of the Soil

Many would consider plants known as weeds as little more than an eyesore or a nuisance. Not everyone thinks that way, though. For some such as Joseph Cocannouner, author of Weeds, Guardians of the Soil, weeds provide a number of important and beneficial functions. For one, they bring up minerals that have been depleted in the topsoil from the lower subsoil for the benefit of the crops. Additionally, according to Cocannouner, weeds break up rough patches of soil, allowing future crops to send down roots much more deely than before. Weeds furthermore promote a good environment for the small organisms that make any soil fertile. Lastly, weeds serve as great indicators of overall soil health and as specific indicators of particular deficiencies. Any farmer or gardener who finds weeds a source of consternation may want to consider reading this.

This out-of-print text can also be found at the Soil and Health Ag Library.